Page 192 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

190  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS SPECIAL INTEREST S AND OUTDOOR A C TIVITIES  191

SPECIAL INTERESTS AND Distillery operating tours.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES The production of cask­
conditioned beers is explained
at Edinburgh’s Caledonian
Scotland may not be able to guarantee looking for. That could be playing golf by Brewery. An exhibition at
Inverawe Smokehouses,
sunshine or offer beach culture, but its the sea, fishing on the Tweed, cruising to see near Taynuilt in the Highlands,
popularity as a holiday destination is due in whales off the west coast during the summer, shows the techniques used in
no small part to its opportunities for outdoor skiing in the Cairngorms in winter, eating smoking fish such as salmon.
activities, as well as cultural pursuits. Over the fresh oysters at a lochside restaurant or
years, the tourist industry has matured to searching for information on ancestors who Viewing Wildlife
occupy an important role in the Scottish left the country 200 years ago. Facilities for all In comparison with much of the
economy, and local businesses have become kinds of activities have never been better, and rest of the British Isles, Scotland
adept at providing visitors with what they are this section outlines some of the best. still has large areas of moor and
mountain wilder ness and a Sighting a porpoise as it breaks the calm surface of a sea loch
long, relatively undeveloped
Ireland in the na Gàidhlig. Sabhal Mor coastline that supports a range moun tains near Aviemore, on the mountainsides. With a
4th century BC, Ostaig, a college on the Isle of animals (see pp22–3). In the rangers from the Cairngorm large share of Britain’s resident
and later into of Skye, runs short Gaelic Rein deer Centre take parties of and visiting birds, Scotland is
Scotland where courses for visitors. people on to the mountain to also home to a number of
it became the walk among a herd of reindeer. impor tant bird sanctuaries, the
national lang- A convenient way to see the most celebrated being Handa
uage. By the Food and Drink Tours abundant sealife is on a boat Island off Scourie on the far
18th century, Scotland has a justified trip run by Maid of the Forth north west coast (see p161).
however, under reputation for fine produce, and Cruises, which operates from St Abb’s Head (see p90) east of
English rule, there has been an upsurge in South Queensferry on the Forth Edin burgh and Baron’s Haugh
Gaelic had the number of noteworthy near Edinburgh – dolphins and near Motherwell (on the
become restaurants in Edinburgh and common seals are resident in outskirts of Glasgow) are
identified with Glasgow. Indeed, Edinburgh has these waters. More adventurous nearer the cities.
Searching for records of ancestors, Edinburgh a rebellious estab lished itself as the number are the trips in search of whales Many wildlife tours are small­
clan system two city for eating out in the offered by Sea Life Surveys scale private businesses that
Tracing Genealogy that was persecuted after the British Isles, after London. from the Isle of Mull, but even operate according to seasonal
From the time of the infa mous Jacobite rising of 1745 (see One way of sampling Scot tish a casual tourist in the Highlands and daily demand, so always
Clearances of the 18th century p49). It was marginalized and cuisine is to book a holi day Walkers on the lookout for red deer and can spot birds of prey, otters in check the details with the local
onwards (see p154), Scots suffered a decline. through Connoisseurs birds of prey at Glen Coe the lochs and herds of red deer tourist information offices.
have emigrated to Australia, A renaissance aims to Scotland, which arranges stays
Canada, New Zealand, South revive this once-dominant at country house hotels with a DIRECTORY
Africa, the US and elsewhere cul ture with Gaelic broadcasts reputation for top-class cooking,
in search of an easier life. There and by teaching it to children. such as the Crinan Hotel in Tracing Comunn na Gàidhlig Glenfiddich Distillery Tel (01479) 861228.
are now millions of foreign An Comunn Gaidhealach, Argyll, or Gleneagles. Genealogy 5 Mitchell’s Lane, Dufftown, Keith, ∑ cairngormreindeer.
nationals who can trace their Scot land’s official Gaelic The Scotch Malt Whisky General Register Inverness, IV2 3HQ. Banffshire, AB55 4DH. co.uk
Tel (01463) 234138.
heritage back to Scotland, society, organizes the Society has information for House ∑ cnag.org Tel (01340) 820373. Maid of the Forth
and uncover ing family history annual Royal National Mod lovers of this spirit. Distilleries General Register House, ∑ glenfiddich.com Cruises
is a popular reason for visiting (see p42), a per forming arts are a popular attraction 2 Princes St, Edinburgh, Sabhal Mor Ostaig Inverawe South Queensferry,
the country. competition. Other Gaelic (see pp36–7 and p148), with EH1 3YY. Sleat, Isle of Skye, IV44 Smokehouses EH30 9TB.
Professional genealogists societies include Comunn names such as Glenfiddich Tel (0131) 535 1314. 8RQ. Tel (01471) 888000. Taynuilt, Argyll, Tel (0131) 331 5000.
can be commissioned, but ∑ nrscotland.gov.uk ∑ smo.uhi.ac.uk PA35 1HU. ∑ maidofthe forth.
those interested in conducting Tel (0344) 847 5490. co.uk
invest igations themselves Scottish Genealogy Food and Drink ∑ smokedsalmon. Sea Life Surveys
Tours
should try the General Register Society co.uk Ledaig, Tobermory, Isle of
House (which has rec ords of 15 Victoria St, Edinburgh, Caledonian Brewery Scotch Malt Whisky Mull, PA75 6NU.
births, deaths and mar riages EH1 2JL. 42 Slateford Rd, Society Tel (01688) 302916.
dating from the 1500s) or the Tel (0131) 220 3677. Edinburgh, EH11 1PH. The Vaults, 87 Giles St, ∑ sealifesurveys.com
Scottish Genealogy Soc iety, ∑ scotsgenealogy.com Tel (0131) 337 1286. Edinburgh, EH6 6BZ.
both in Edinburgh. ∑ caledonianbeer.com Tel (0131) 554 3451.
Gaelic Studies ∑ smws.com
Connoisseurs
Gaelic Studies An Comunn Scotland Viewing Wildlife
Gaidhealach PO Box 26164, 10A
The northwest of Scotland is Balnain House, 40 Huntly Ridge way, Suite 3, Fife, Cairngorm Reindeer
the heartland for the Gaelic St, Inverness, IV3 5HR. KY11 9JN. Centre
language. Historically, this was Tel (01463) 709 705. Tel (01383) 825800. Glenmore, Aviemore,
a Celtic language that spread ∑ ancomunn.co.uk ∑ luxuryscotland.co.uk PH22 1QU.
from mainland Europe to Learning about whisky, the “water of life”, at a Speyside distillery

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